Playing his acoustic Martin guitar and singing with a voice of sandpaper and honey, Ted Hawkins was
discovered while earning his living as a street minstrel, a busker on the shores of Los Angeles. His stabs at success
started with the 1966 single "Baby" on Money Records, which led to a dead end. Despite critical acclaim for his 1972 "Watch
Your Step" release on Rounder Records - the release earned a 5 star review by Rolling Stone's Dave Marsh - his first success
germinated in England when the BBC's Andy Kershaw became Ted's champion. In the late 80's Ted relocated to Bridlington on
the northern coast of England basking in the adulation Europeans have always shown for American Roots music. He returned to
the U.S. in 1990 looking for the same recognition from his homeland only to land back on the streets of Los Angeles for his
stage. An astonishing deal with powerhouse label Geffen Records in 1993 led to the release of "The Next Hundred Years."
There began his ascent up the "Ladder of Success." The following year with a full-force marketing team behind the music,
this iconoclastic singer-songwriter began touring the U.S. generating a flurry of adoring reviews for his live performances.
He returned to Europe triumphant in his new found stateside success and spent three weeks performing in Australia, which
pushed the album on to the Top 20 in that country's Billboard charts.
"The Next Hundred Years" began a resurgence for this emotional singer. His simple, poignant songs cover a divergent life,
from escaping the Black South and the mean streets of Los Angeles, to an amazing success story of sheer perseverance. Ted
Hawkins died an untimely death on January 1, 1995 from a Diabetes-related stroke. He left behind a body of intriguing
songs and recordings as he departed this world.
selected discography:
1966 |
Money Records (#121) |
"BABY" SINGLE W/ B-SIDE, "WHOLE LOTTA WOMEN" |
1981 |
Rounder (#2024) |
WATCH YOUR STEP |
1986 |
Munich Records (#123) |
TED HAWKINS ON THE BOARDWALK:
THE VENICE BEACH TAPES (Dutch import) |
1986 |
Munich Records (#126) |
TED HAWKINS ON THE BOARDWALK:
THE VENICE BEACH TAPES, VOL. II (Dutch import) |
1987 |
Rounder (#2033) |
HAPPY HOUR |
1989 |
PT Records (#008) |
I LOVE YOU TOO (England) |
1994 |
Geffen Records (#24627) |
THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS |
1994 |
RCA Records (#66443-2) |
CORRINA, CORRINA (the original motion picture soundtrack),
FEATURING THE TED HAWKINS RECORDING OF "CORRINA, CORRINA" |
1995 |
Strange Roots (#006) |
THE KERSHAW SESSIONS (England) |
1995 |
Evidence Music (28000-2) |
SONGS FROM VENICE BEACH
(U.S. reissue compilation of "The Boardwalk Tapes") |
1995 |
Geffen Records(#DGCV 39551) |
TED HAWKINS: AMAZING GRACE
(video documentary produced by Cobalt Films) |
1997 |
(#UDCD 702) |
THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS
(24 KT Gold Edition) Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab |
1998 |
Evidence Music (#ECD 280026) |
THE FINAL TOUR: TED HAWKINS LIVE |
1998 |
Rhino Records (#72956) |
SUFFER NO MORE: THE TED HAWKINS STORY
Compilation Producer: Jimmy Guterman |
1998 |
Evidence Music (#ECD 28003-2) |
LOVE YOU MOST OF ALL:
More Songs from Venice Beach |
2001 |
Catfish Records (U.K.)
(#KATCD176FP) |
THE UNSTOPPABLE TED HAWKINS |
selected songs:
Baby
Bring It Home Daddy
Cold and Bitter Tears
Green Eyed Girl
Golden Sun
aka Christmas in California
Ladder of Success
Sorry You're Sick
Stop Your Crying
Strange Conversation
Watch Your Step
Who Do You Love
Who Got My Natural Comb
The Good and The Bad
The Lost Ones
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